Rena update (update 129)

9 December 2011 - 10.30AM

Salvors on board the crane barge Smit Borneo hope to this afternoon begin removing containers from the Rena, weather and other conditions permitting.

The 110 metre crane barge departed Port of Tauranga early yesterday morning, and salvors spent the day securing the vessel on the port side of the Rena. This involved the placement of mooring lines and four massive anchors, at the end of about 800m of anchor chain, to secure the barge next to the Rena.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) Salvage Unit Manager Arthur Jobard said the barge was currently moored about 300m off Rena. It would use winches to extend and retract its four anchor chains to move the vessel to access containers from different parts of the ship as needed.

Mr Jobard said salvors planned to begin testing the barge’s cranes and other systems today, starting with the removal of lighter, empty containers, before beginning work on the heavier containers.

“The focus today will be on testing and refining the process for removing containers, starting with those that are empty before moving onto more difficult containers. As always, these operations are highly complex and are heavily dependent on the weather and technical factors. However, all going well, it is hoped that we will be able to start removing containers later today.

“That said, this is still a very hazardous working environment and safety remains the number one priority. That means that salvage operations will only be undertaken when it is safe to do so and when the weather conditions allow.”

Mr Jobard said Smit Borneo provided greater reach and capacity than the barge Sea Tow 60, which would be now be used as a shuttle barge to transfer offloaded containers back to the port. Salvors would also stay on board the Smit Borneo, which eliminates the need to travel to and from shore.

Salvors had also been working to install patches in corridors under the deck of Rena, to help seal off damaged areas and increase the vessel’s buoyancy.

“The purpose of these patches is to create a series of watertight air pockets under the main deck, which will enhance the vessel’s ability to stay afloat.”

Mr Jobard said three large steel patches, fabricated in Tauranga by salvors and each weighing about 700kg, had been welded in position under the deck on the port side of Rena.

To date, 167 containers have been removed from Rena, with 86 lost overboard and 1,115 still on board.

Weather today is for north-easterly winds of 10 knots and a swell of 1.0–1.5m, forecast to continue over the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Keri Morgan of the National Oiled Wildlife Response Team, said nine more little blue penguins had been released today, following the 30 released yesterday at Mount Maunganui with the help of pupils from local schools and the blessing of iwi. Five more endangered New Zealand dotterels were also released at Matakana Island yesterday.

“A big thanks again to all of the pupils and teachers from Bellevue, Omanu, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and Tahatai Coast primary schools, iwi representatives and others who took part in yesterday’s release and helped make the event a success.”

Ms Morgan said 190 penguins were still being housed at the centre, along with 12 dotterels.

“We are working closely with the response team to make sure that birds are only released into areas where the environment is safe for them to return, and the chances of them becoming re-oiled are low. However, this must be balanced against the risks of keeping the birds in captivity for too long, which can create other health problems for them.”

Ms Morgan said 66 previously released penguins on Rabbit Island had been checked by wildlife teams overnight, and were doing well, with no sign of re-oiling.

More animals would be released in stages over the coming weeks as their habitats continued to be cleaned up after they had passed pre-release assessments.

National On Scene Commander Mick Courtnell said following an overflight of Rena this morning, a 3km-long rainbow sheen of oil was coming from around the vessel.

“This is consistent with what has been happening since Rena grounded, with oil continuing to leach from the vessel as it moves with the tide and sea conditions. The oil spill response team is continuing to monitor the sheen and is ready to respond should more oil come ashore.”

Mr Courtnell said contractors were today continuing to work at Motītī Island, with a major effort today to finish off beach cleaning operations at Mauāo. Contractors were also working at Matakana Island.

A total 962 tonnes of solid waste and 34 tonnes of liquid waste had been recovered during the spill response operation so far, he said.

Mr Courtnell said the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Harbourmaster’s three nautical mile exclusion zone around Rena was still in place, with the zone remaining closed to unauthorised vessels or persons. 

“On behalf of the harbourmaster, boat operators are also reminded to take extra care around three anchoring sites used for corralling containers that may fall from Rena. These sites – east of Rabbit Island (Motuotau), off the western side of Motītī Island and off the coast of Pāpāmoa Beach – currently have navigational safety hazards including unlit buoys, ropes, chains and anchors which require people to keep well clear.”

Mr Courtnell also thanked businesses and volunteers who continued to support the response effort.